# Schneeferner

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{{Short description|Glacier in the Bavarian Alps, Germany}}
{{Infobox glacier
| child             = 
| name              = Schneeferner
| other_name        = 
| image             = Zugspitzplatt mit Schneeferner.JPG
| image_size        = 
| image_alt         = 
| caption           = The Northern Schneeferner and the remnants of the Southern Schneeferner (left), end July 2006
| map               = Bavaria#Alps#Austria#Germany
| label_position    = top
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = 
| type              = 
| location          = [Bavaria top](/source/Bavaria_top)
| coordinates       = {{Coord|format=dms|display=it}}
| coords_ref        = 
| area              = 
| length            = 
| width             = 
| thickness         = 
| elevation_max     = 
| elevation_min     = 
| terminus          = 
| status            = 
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
}}

The '''Schneeferner''' in the [Bavarian Alps](/source/Bavarian_Alps) is Germany's highest and largest [glacier](/source/glacier).<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2024 |title=Gletscher-Rekorde |trans-title=Glacier Records |url=https://www.planet-wissen.de/natur/klima/gletscher/gletscherrekorde-100.html |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Planet-Wissen.de |language=de}}</ref><ref name="sd">{{Cite web |date=June 23, 2010 |title=Kaltgestellter Gletscher |trans-title=Iced-off glacier |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/zugspitze-kaltgestellter-gletscher-1.964051 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[Süddeutsche.de](/source/S%C3%BCddeutsche.de) |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Daten & Fakten |trans-title=Data & Facts |url=http://www.gletscher-info.de/html/daten.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719032330/http://www.gletscher-info.de/html/daten.html |archive-date=2011-07-19 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=www.gletscher-info.de}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Schneeferner glacier is located on the ''[Zugspitzplatt](/source/Zugspitzplatt)'', a plateau south of the country's highest peak, the [Zugspitze](/source/Zugspitze), that descends from west to east and forms the head of the [Reintal](/source/Reintal_(Wetterstein)) valley. The [meltwater](/source/meltwater)s from the glacier seep away into the [karst](/source/karst)ified plateau and surface again in the Reintal, where they feed the River [Partnach](/source/Partnach). The Schneeferner is one of the northernmost glaciers in the [Alps](/source/Alps).

== History ==
In the 19th century, towards the end of the [Little Ice Age](/source/Little_Ice_Age), a large glacier, the ''Plattachferner'', covered almost the entire ''Zugspitzplatt'' between the [Jubiläumsgrat](/source/Jubil%C3%A4umsgrat) arête and the [Plattspitzen](/source/Plattspitzen) peaks. It covered an area of about {{Convert|300|ha|sqmi}}<ref name="bay-gletscher">{{Cite web |title=Nördlicher Schneeferner |trans-title=Northern Schneeferner |url=http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/nsf.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720003457/http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/nsf.htm |archive-date=2011-07-20 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[LRZ.de](/source/LRZ.de)}}</ref> and left behind large [moraine](/source/moraine)s during its subsequent retreat that are still visible today.

From about 1860 until the 1950s the glacier lost roughly {{Convert|23000|m²|acre}} of area each year and by the end of that period had [shrunk](/source/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850) to about {{Convert|60|ha|acre}}.<ref name="klis2001">{{Cite web |last=Escher-Vetter |first=H. |title=Zum Gletscherverhalten in den Alpen im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert |trans-title=On glacier behavior in the Alps in the twentieth century |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimastatusbericht/publikationen/ksb2001_pdf/06_2001.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429173037/https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimastatusbericht/publikationen/ksb2001_pdf/06_2001.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1 |archive-date=2021-04-29 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[DWD.de](/source/DWD.de) |at=fig. 4, p. 55}}</ref> During its retreat, the glacier split into a northern and a southern section towards the end of the 19th century. Later, the so-called Eastern or Little Schneeferner below the summit of the [Zugspitze](/source/Zugspitze) broke away from the northern section and has since totally disappeared.<ref name="bay-gletscher"/>

Thereafter the glacier's retreat was less drastic and the remaining sections of the Northern Schneeferner tended to just shrink in thickness due to their location in a [basin](/source/basin_(geomorphology)). In the 1960s <!-- 1965 and 1968, but not referenced --> and 1970s, <!-- between 1974 and 1980 not ref --> favourable conditions even led to a growth in the thickness of the glacier.<ref name="bay-gletscher"/><!-- conspicuous increases in area were also noted on the Southern Schneeferner.-->

Since 1980 the glaciers on the ''Zugspitzplatt'' have again been on the retreat. In 2006 the two remaining parts of the glacier still covered an area of {{Convert|39|ha|acre}}; in addition there were a couple of smaller [firn](/source/firn) fields.<ref name="bay-gletscher"/>

Since 1990, [global warming](/source/global_warming) has seen consistently above-average summer temperatures recorded on the Zugspitze.<ref name="dwd-zugspitze">{{Cite web |title=Wetterwarte Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Zugspitze 1900 bis 2006 |trans-title=Garmisch-Partenkirchen Weather Station / Zugspitze 1900 to 2006 |url=http://www.tu-freiberg.de/~wwwmediz/Win_media/Annaberg_2006/PDF/Kristen%2520DWD%252010-05-06.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140551/http://www.tu-freiberg.de/~wwwmediz/Win_media/Annaberg_2006/PDF/Kristen%2520DWD%252010-05-06.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-29 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[TU-Freiberg.de](/source/TU-Freiberg.de) |language=de}}</ref> Summer snowfalls have become increasingly rare, which damages glaciers, because such snowfalls decrease the energy absorbed by glaciers and interrupt melting processes by increasing their [albedo](/source/albedo). About {{Convert|80|cm|in}} of ice melted has melted annually, on average. If this rate of melting continues, the glaciers on the Zugspitze will disappear between 2015 and 2030,<ref name="kfg2003">{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=M. |year=2003 |title=Gletscherschwund und Klimawandel an der Zugspitze und am Vernagtferner (Ötztaler Alpen) |trans-title=Glacier retreat and climate change at the Zugspitze and the Vernagtferner glacier (Ötztal Alps) |url=http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~a2901ad/webserver/webdata/download/InfoGletscher.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040707112345/http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~a2901ad/webserver/webdata/download/InfoGletscher.pdf |archive-date=2004-07-07 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[LRZ-Muenchen.de](/source/LRZ-Muenchen.de) |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 2026 |title=Ski lift demolished as German glacier melts away |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2026/0321/1564451-ski-lift-demolished-as-german-glacier-melts-away/ |website=[RTÉ News](/source/RT%C3%89_News) |language=en}}</ref> although a few small remnants of ice may survive longer.

== Northern Schneeferner ==
thumb|The Northern Schneeferner on 22&nbsp;September 2009
With an area of {{Convert|31|ha|acre}} (as at 2006) the Northern Schneeferner (''Nördlicher Schneeferner'') alone would be the largest glacier in Germany.<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/> Its ice sheet is an average of about {{convert|17|m|ft}} thick and {{Convert|52|m|ft}} at the deepest point. It lies at an average elevation of {{Convert|2640|m|ft}} above sea level and is therefore higher than the other German glaciers: the [Höllentalferner](/source/H%C3%B6llentalferner), [Watzmann Glacier](/source/Watzmann_Glacier) and [Blaueis](/source/Blaueis).<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/> It flows from west to east with a gentle gradient, especially in its lower reaches. North of the glacier is the [arête](/source/ar%C3%AAte) running from the [Zugspitze](/source/Zugspitze) to the ''Zugspitzeck''; in the west it almost reaches the wide ''Schneefernerscharte'' (Schneeferner wind gap). To the east and south it is open; even the [Schneefernerkopf](/source/Schneefernerkopf) mountain to the southwest offers very little shade.

The glacier is mainly fed by [precipitation](/source/Precipitation_(meteorology)) falling directly onto its surface; it is also supplied with snow from [avalanche](/source/avalanche)s that sweep down from the rocks of the ''Zugspitzeck'' and the Schneefernerkopf. The velocity at which the glacier moves is only about {{convert|25|to|30|cm|abbr=on}} per year in its central section<ref name="uwg">{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=Nördlicher Schneeferner |trans-title=Northern Schneeferner |url=http://umweltgeol-he.de/WerdenfelserGeotope.Wetterstein.ZugspitzplattUndPlattumrahmung.NoerdlicherSchneeferner.htm |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=UmweltGeol-HE.de |language=de}}</ref> and there is hardly any movement of glacial mass at lower altitudes. On the steep flanks of the Schneefernerkopf the flow rate can be several metres per year, but here the glacier has all but disappeared in recent years; its remnants are covered by gravel and very little [accumulation](/source/accumulation_zone) takes place.

=== Exploitation of the glacier ===
Today, the Northern Schneeferner is a [winter sport](/source/winter_sport)s area. Since 1955, five ski lifts have been built on the ice sheet, making it the only German glacier skiing area. At one time summer [skiing](/source/skiing) was also possible here. In order to better support winter sports, the natural evolution of the glacier has been counteracted by transporting snow from surrounding areas. As a result, since 1990 the ice thickness has occasionally increased.

Since 1993, certain areas of the glacier have been covered with tarpaulins during the summer to protect the winter ice and snow from sunshine and rain. In 2007, {{convert|9000|m2|abbr=on}} covered 2.6% of the glacier<ref name="abdeck2007kfg"/> compared to {{convert|6000|m2|abbr=on}} previously.<ref name="uwg"/> By doing so it is hoped that the exposure of rocks that could hamper winter sports can be delayed as long as possible. Although preference is given to covering the areas in which glacial melting under natural conditions would be the fastest, these measures have had little effect on the life of the glacier to date.  The ice obtained only compensates for about 1% of the loss that is expected in the unprotected areas of the glacier.<ref name="abdeck2007kfg">{{Cite web |date=May 2007 |title=Gletscher können nicht durch das Abdecken kleiner Teilflächen wie im Falle des Schneeferners an der Zugspitze erhalten werden! |trans-title=Glaciers cannot be preserved by covering small sections, as is the case with the Schneeferner glacier on the Zugspitze! |url=http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~a2901ad/webserver/webdata/download/Info040507.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423202507/http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~a2901ad/webserver/webdata/download/Info040507.pdf |archive-date=2009-04-23 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[LRZ-Muenchen.de](/source/LRZ-Muenchen.de)}}</ref> In 2010, an area {{convert|50000|m2|abbr=on}} was covered by the [Bavarian Zugspitze Railway Company](/source/Bavarian_Zugspitze_Railway_Company), primarily to protect the winter sports areas.<ref name="sd"/>

=== Record summer of 2003 ===
On warm days the ice sheet of the Northern Schneeferner reduces by up to {{convert|11|cm|abbr=on}}. In [August 2003](/source/2003_heat_wave) the melting of the glacier produced {{convert|35000|m3|abbr=on}} of water daily, roughly one tenth of the average water consumption of the Munich region.<ref name="kfg2003"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Umwelterklärung 2009 der Stadtwerke München Wassergewinnung |trans-title=Environmental Statement 2009 of the Munich Municipal Utilities - Water Extraction |url=http://www.swm.de/dms/swm/dokumente/unternehmen/verantwortung/umwelt/zertifizierungen/umwelterklaerung-wassergewinnung-2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721203029/http://www.swm.de/dms/swm/dokumente/unternehmen/verantwortung/umwelt/zertifizierungen/umwelterklaerung-wassergewinnung-2009.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[SWM.de](/source/SWM.de) |page=11 |language=de}}  (105.7 MCM in 2009 equates to roughly 290,000 m<sup>3</sup> per day)</ref> Experts describe this melting of ice as ''Gletscherrauschen'' ("glacier rushing"), which produces melt water streams.<ref name="uwg"/>

=== Northern Schneeferner in figures ===
* Area: {{convert|30.7|ha|abbr=on}} (as at 2006)<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo">{{Cite web |title=Nördliche Schneeferner - Topographie |trans-title=Northern Scheeferner - Topography |url=http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/nsf/nsf_topo.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720003606/http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/nsf/nsf_topo.htm |archive-date=2011-07-20 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[LRZ.de](/source/LRZ.de)}}</ref> 
* Elevation: {{convert|2798|-|2558|m|abbr=on}}, average {{convert|2635|m|abbr=on}} (as at 2006)<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/>
* Average ice thickness: {{convert|16.8|m|abbr=on}} (as at November 2006)<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/>
* Maximum ice thickness: {{convert|52|m|abbr=on}}52 m (as at November 2006)<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/>
* Volume: {{convert|5160000|m3|abbr=on}} (as at November 2006)<ref name="bay-gletscher-ns-topo"/>
* Maximum length: {{convert|850|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="uwg"/>
* Average gradient: 14°<ref name="uwg"/>

== Southern Schneeferner ==
thumb|The Southern Schneeferner on 28 August 2003, immediately after the record heat wave
The Southern Schneeferner (''Südlicher Schneeferner'') once covered the entire southwestern part of the ''Zugspitzplatt''. By 2006 only an area of some {{convert|8|ha|abbr=on}} was left and its ice sheet, with an average thickness of less than {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}}, was thin.<ref name="bay-gletscher-ss-topo">{{Cite web |title=Südliche Schneeferner - Topographie |trans-title=Southern Schneeferner - Topography |url=http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/ssf/ssf_topo.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720003732/http://www.lrz.de/~bayerischegletscher/ssf/ssf_topo.htm |archive-date=2011-07-20 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=[LRZ.de](/source/LRZ.de) |language=de}}</ref>At the end of the 20th century the glacier had split up into a southeastern part below the ''Wetterwandeck'' and a northwestern area below the  [Wetterspitzen](/source/Wetterspitzen), which later divided into the last remaining large sheet of ice and several smaller [firn](/source/firn) fields. These remnants can no longer be described as a glacier and they may melt completely within a few years. In the summer of 2022, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences officially revoked the Southern Schneeferner's classification as a glacier, citing the overall loss of coverage, thickness and movement of ice.<ref name="Suedlicher Declassified">{{cite web |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Gletscherschwund: Der Südliche Schneeferner verliert seinen Status als Gletscher |trans-title=Glacier retreat: The Southern Schneeferner is losing its status as a glacier. |url=https://badw.de/die-akademie/presse/pressemitteilungen/pm-einzelartikel/detail/gletscherschwund-der-suedliche-schneeferner-verliert-seinen-status-als-gletscher.html |access-date=26 September 2022 |website=[BAdW.de](/source/BAdW.de)}}</ref>

=== The Southern Schneeferner in figures ===
* Area: {{convert|1.0|ha|abbr=on}} (as at September 2022)<ref name="Suedlicher Declassified"/>
* Elevation: {{convert|2664|-|2520|m|abbr=on}}, average {{convert|2587|m|abbr=on}} (as at 2022)<ref name="Suedlicher Declassified"/>
* Average ice thickness: {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}} (as at September 2022)<ref name="Suedlicher Declassified"/>
* Maximum ice thickness: {{convert|6|m|abbr=on}} (as at September 2022)<ref name="Suedlicher Declassified"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.bayerische-gletscher.de/ Archive of Bavarian glaciers] {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.zugspitze.de/de/aktuell/wetter/panoramakameras.htm/ Webcams of the Zugspitze] (which periodically scan the glacier)

Category:Glaciers of Bavaria
Category:Glaciers of the Alps
GSchneeferner <!-- "G" for "glacier" -->
Category:Wetterstein

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Schneeferner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneeferner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneeferner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.